State mulls abolishing quit rent — Adenan
SARIKEI: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem says the state government is considering abolishing quit rent or land tax.
However, he said the state must first reclaim its right to collect stamp duty revenue from the federal government to offset the loss of revenue from quit rent collection.
“The state government can consider abolishing the quit rent once it gets back the stamp power from the federal government to offset it.
“The state can earn millions from land stamp duties now done by the federal government,” he said when launching the Sarikei leg of the Sejiwa Senada Programme yesterday to the applause of an over 20,000-strong crowd.
Adenan also pledged to continue pursuing negotiations with Putrajaya regarding the state’s autonomy and the devolution of powers.
He said the first step in that direction was the formation of a special committee comprising representatives of the state and federal governments to look into every area to be taken into consideration before a final decision is reached.
Adenan explained that the state government is most interested in empowerment over Sarawak’s economy and to set aside any laws found to be detrimental to the state.
On negotiations for a better share of oil royalties, the Chief Minister said he wanted both sides to reach an agreement expeditiously.
He reiterated that his bargaining power in the negotiations would be greater if he has the solid backing of Sarawakians.
“I need your help by giving me a big mandate to enable me to stand up strong and speak vocally when negotiating with Putrajaya,” Adenan stressed, adding once again that he wanted just five years more to deliver more development to the people as well as to fight for their rights.
“Just give me another five years to be your Chief Minister. I do not want longer than that as after five years I shall be 77 years old and already too old,” he said.
Reiterating the priority he accorded to rural development to narrow the socioeconomic gap between urbanites and rural folk, he said RM500 million was set aside in 2014 and again in 2015 to build roads and bridges in rural areas.
During the function, Adenan approved RM3.5 million to renovate the Sarikei Sports Complex.
He said the RM45 million approved by former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin a few years back would be used to upgrade Rentap Road, which is across the Sarikei River.
Adenan also presented Petronas’ corporate social responsibility contribution totalling RM75,000 to five nongovernmental organisations in the division.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Awang Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Minister of Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Julau Member of Parliament Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum and Daro assemblyman Murni Suhaili.